Merchandise display device



April 1932- s. EISENBERG ET AL 1,854,295

MERCHANDISE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 16, 1931 ShBGtS-Sht 1 w L Q J Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNHTED STATES {PATENT oFFicE MERCHANDISE DISPLAY DEVICE Application filed March 16, 1931. Serial No. 522,974.

This invention relates to improvements in a merchandise display device.

One of the main ob ects of this invention is to provide a display device whereby todisplay articles, such as merchandise, and also to bear descriptive matter or statements relating to said articles, and which device is arranged to attract attention thereto and to the articles therein.

Another object is to provide a display device which is equipped with several movable parts, for displaying several articles in succession, forsuccessively displaying descriptive matter or inscriptions concerning said articles, and for operating movable elements to attract attention to the device and to the articles on display therein, the various parts being combined to operate in unison.

A further object is to provide-such a display device comprising a rotary table member having several shelves for carrying various articles thereon, and a rotary member having several inscriptions thereon concerning said various articles, which members are combined to be rotated in unison, whereby to display and also to describe the several articles in succession during such rotation of said members.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which the invent-ion is shown in its preferred form, it being understood that other arrangements and forms of construction may be resorted to for carrying out the objects and purposes of this invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plain view of a display device embodying our invention, in its preferred form of construction, part of the top being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on line 33 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on line 44 of Fig. 3.

In the drawings an embodiment of our novel display device is illustrated in its pre ferred form of construction. This comprises a housing 10, which may be made of wood, or other suitable material; and which includes plate boss 34 provided on the housing or casing abase member or lower'wall 11, preferably supported onlegs 12; and'from the side por-v tions of which arise upstanding walls 13, closed, at the front by an intervening front wall 14, and'at the rear by an 'openable rear wal 15, which is movably connected to the side walls, as by means of hinge means 16 and latch means 17, or in some other suitable manner, to form a door and provide convenientaccess tothe interior of the housing. 1

Display window means is provided on this housing, which preferably comprises an upper window 18 and a lower window 19, which are preferably positioned in the front wall 14. These windows are arranged to display respectively the inscriptions and the articles therethrough.

An article carrying member or table 21, substantially in the form of a turntable, is rotatably mountedon base member 11, as by means of a bearing collar 22 secured on said base member, and a bearing plate or washer 23 and a shaft 24 secured on said turntable, the plate bearing on saidcol-lar, and the shaft extending through the plate and being journaled in said collar. Partition walls or ribs '25 arise from the main horizontal part of the turntable, thereby dividing it into several substantially segmental shelves, for carrying several articles, which may be different articles of merchandise, as'Al, A2, A3, A4, positioned on the different shelves; theseldifferent articles being then successively visible and on display through the lower window 19 as the turntable 21is rotated. f i

A deck member or table 30, substantially in the form of a turntable, is rotatably mounted on a horizontally extending stationary platform or supporting member 31 which is provided in the intermediate part of the housing, this being preferably done by the use of a collar 32 secured with its flange 33 and suitable screws centrally underneath said table 30, and'bearing rotatably on the' part of a speed reducer 35'which is mounted on a plate 36 secured upon said platform 31. A stub shaft 37 is secured in said collar 32, and extends rotatably through said boss '34,

thereby centering said table on said plat- 1'00 form, said stub shaft being driven by the mechanism of said speed reducer, as is well understood.

Band means or flange means 40, preferably in the form of a circular or cylindrical band or drum, is provided on said deck member or table 30, to extend downwardly therefrom; and it is arranged to bear descriptive matter or inscriptions 41 thereon relating to the articles carried on the shelves of the turntable 21. Said band means and the inscriptions 41 thereon are arranged to be visible and displayed through the upper window 18 in harmony with the displaying, through the lower window 19, of the several articles placed on the several shelves of the turntable 21. These various articles, and the various inscriptions respectively relating thereto, will be visible through the windows 19 and 18 respectively, shelf full after shelf full in succession as the turntables are rotated.

The drive shafts 24 and 37 of the turntables 21 and 30 are connected or coupled together by means of a sleeve 42 which em.- braces the two adjoining ends of these shafts, to rotate them in unison, said sleeve being held in position thereon by a suitable setsc'rew 43. This sleeve is slidable on said shafts, and by sliding it up onto shaft 37, removed from shaft 24, the upper turntable 30 carrying the drum 40 containing the inscriptions 41 thereon, may then be rotated, while permitting the lower turntable 21 with the articles thereon to remain at rest, showing the articles on two shelves, through window 19, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, whenever this may be found desirable.

The means provided for driving the turntables and their shafts comprises, in addition to the speed reducer 35, also a motor 44 which is preferably mounted on the platform 31 and is supplied with current through a suitable conductor 45. belt 46 which drives a pulley 47 secured on the outer end of a shaft 48 (see Fig. 4) extending from the speed reducer mechanism through a sleeve 49 (see Fig. 3) formed on the speed reducer housing.

Electric lighting means is also provided in the housing 10, for illuminating the inscriptions and the articles, and this means preferablycomprises a lamp 50 and a lamp 51, mounted onthe inner side of the front wall 14 and above windows 18 and 19 respectively, preferably as indicated in Fi s. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The lamps have suitable current conducting means 52 connected thereto.

Special attracting means is also provided in'this invention, to arouse the interest and attract the attention of the passersby to this device and the articles and tie inscriptions therein. This means preferably comprises an electromagnet 53 secured on turntable 30, so as to move therewith, for drawing and moving suitable magnetically attracted Said motor drives a cable or means or elements 54 over the smooth surface of an opaque member 55, preferably a glass plate or mirror, which is mounted above the eleetromagnet and forms the top of the housing. 'A conductor 56 connects one pole of the electromagnet with the shaft 3'? and collar 32, and another conductor 57 connects the other pole of said electromagnet with an upper collector ring 58 which is secured centrally underneath turntable 30. From said ring 58 depend sleeves 59 which contain spring-pressed brush means 60 for engaging and traveling over a stationary lower collector ring 61, which is suported upon bars or posts 62 arising from plate 36 on platform 31, said collector ring 61 being positioned adjacent and being spaced from the housing of the speed reducer 85, as best shown in Fig 4 of the drawings.

A rectifier 63 may also be installed in the housing, for use with alternating current, conducted thereto through a suitable conductor 64. A conductor 65 is then supplied, to connect the rectifier with the lower collector ring 61, whcrefrom a passage for the current is provided through the brush means 60 to the upper collector ring 58 and therefrom through conductor 5'? to one pole of the electromagnet. A conductor or ground wire 63 connects the rectifier with the housing of the speed reducer which is connected, through its boss 34 and the collar 32 and the conductor 56, with the other pole of the electromagnet; thus providing the supply of electric current to said electromagnet 53, for attracting ele' l ments 54 and causing them to travel over the smooth plate 55 during the rotation of member 30, and in a substantially circular path, said elements being provided globular or of any form and shape desired.

We claim as our invention 1. A display device comprising a. housing, means therein for carrying articles to dis play the same, means for bearing inscriptions concerning said a ticles, and means for attracting attention to said articles and inscriptions, said attracting means including means constantly engaging and traveling upon the top of the housing and concealed means for actuating said movable means.

2. A display device comprising a housing, rotary means therein for carrying and displaying articles, rotary means in the housing for bearing inscriptions concerning said articles, and means for attracting attention to this device, the same including means bear ing and traveling upon the top of said housing and means concealed in the housing and being rotated therein for actuating said traveling means.

3. A display device comprising a housing, rotary means therein for carrying and displaying articles, rotary means in the housing for bearing inscriptions concerning said articl-es, means for attracting attention to the rm av:

device, the same including means traveling on the top of the housing and electricall actuated means concealed in the housing and being rotatable therein for moving said traveling means over said top, and driving means for moving said electrically actuated means and both of said rotary means in unison.

4. A display device comprising a housing having a smooth level top thereon to carry means movable easily thereover, a turntable rotatably mounted in said housing for carrying articles on display, a table member rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent said top and having band means thereon for bearing inscriptions concerning said articles and means secured on said table member to turn therewith, for causing saidmovable means to travel over said smooth top.

5. A display device comprising a housing having a level member providing the top thereof, a turntable mounted in the housing for carrying display articles, a member rotatably mounted in said housing adjacent said top and having depending band means thereon for bearing inscriptions concerning said articles, means for attracting attention to the device and including means readily movable over said smooth top also means secured on said rotatable member for causing said movable means to travel over said top, and driving means, including a driving member concealed by said depending band means, for operating said turntable and said inscription bearing band means and said movable attracting means on said top all in unison.

6. A. display device comprising a housing having a smooth plate to provide its top, a supporting platform stationary within the housing, upper and lower window means provided on the housing, a member rotatably mounted in the lower part of the housing to carry articles on display through the lower window means, a deck rotatably mounted on said platform and having means on its outer edge for bearing words relating to said articles, to be displayed through the upper window means, attracting means including elements movable easily over said smooth plate and an electrically actuated member mounted on said deck to draw and move said elements along over said plate, and driving means, including a motor mounted on said platform and concealed by said word bearing means, for rotating said rotatable member and said deck with the word bearing means and therewith moving said elements, all together and in unison.

7. A display device comprising a housing having a smooth plate top, a stationary platform within the housing, upper and lower window means provided in the housing, above and below said platform respectively, a turntable rotatable in the lower part of the housing and including several shelves for carrying severalarticles to be displayed through the lower window means, a deckrotatably mounted on said platform adjacent said top and having band means on its outer edge for bearing inscriptions concerning said several articles, to display said inscriptionsthrough the upper window means, means of magnetic material movable on said top, a magnet secured on said deck to rotate therewith and to attract and move said magnetic means over said top, said magnet being concealed in the housing, shaft means connecting said turntable and said deck through said platform, and a motor and means concealed by said band means and supported on said platform, for driving said turntable and dec and movable means in unison.

8; A display device comprising a housing having a member rotatably mounted therein for carryingarticles, a member rotatable in the housing and having means around its outer part for bearing inscriptions relating to said articles, and means for op'eratively connecting said members to rotate them in unison, and to disconnect said members for rotating only one thereof.

9. A display device comprising a housing having an upper and a lower display window thereon, a turntable including a plurality of shelves for carrying several articles thereon to be on display in succession through the lower window as said turntable rotates, a member rotatably mounted and protected in the housing and having band means around its outer part for bearing several inscriptions relating respectively to the several articles, said inscriptions being visible successively through the upper window, and means for rotating said turntable and said rotatable member and band means in unison.

10. A display device comprising a housing having a supporting platform therein, also windows positioned one above and one below said platform, a turntable journaled in the lower part of the housing for carrying articles thereon and displaying them through the lower window, a member rotatable on said platform and having means thereon for hearing inscriptions concerning said articles and to be displayed through the upper window, shaft means including a shaft on the turntable and a shaft on the rotatable member, and eou-' pling means for coupling said two shafts ta gether to rotate said turntable and said member in unison, also to leave said shafts uncoupled for rotating one thereof and leaving the other at rest.

11. A display device comprising a housing having an upper and a lower window thereon, a turntable for carrying various articles thereon to be visible in succession through the lower window, a rotatable member having band means thereon for bearing inscriptions relating to the various articles and which are visible through theupper window in succession in harmony with the articles, means for operatively coupling said member and said turntable and for uncoupling the same, and driving means enclosed and concealed by said band means, for driving the coupled turntable and said member With said band means in unison, and for driving the member and band means While the turntable remains at rest.

12. A display device comprising a housing having a stationary platform therein, display windows on the housing, one above and one below said platform, a turntable journaled in the'lower part of the housing and having partition ribs to provide several shelves for carrying various articles to be visible in succession through the lower window, a turntable mounted on said platform and having band means thereon for bearing inscriptions relating to said various articles and to be visible in succession through the upper Window, means for coupling said turntables together and for uncoupling them, and driving means comprising a motor and speed reducin means supported on said platform and concealed by said band means, for driving said turntables in unison when coupled.

13. A display device comprising a housing having an opaque plate thereon to provide the top thereof, a member rotatably mounted in the housing adjacent said top and having means around its outer part for bearing an inscription thereon, a magnet supported on said member to rotate therewith closely adjacent the top plate, means of magnetic material attracted by said magnet to be moved over said plate, and means for rotating said member with the magnetand the inscription bearing means, and thereby cause said magnetic means to travel over said plate.

14. A display device comprising a housing having a smooth opaque plate thereon to provide the top thereof, a turntable in the housing, a window on the housing in front of the turntable, band means depending from the turntable for bearing descriptive matter visible through the window, magnetically attractable means on said plate to be readily movable thereover, an electromagnet secured on said turntable to move therewith adjacent said plate for moving said means over said plate,-said electromagnet being hidden from view by said plate and the housing, and a motor and driving means concealed by said band means, for driving the device.

In testimony whereof we have signed this specification.

SAMUEL EISENBERG. ANTHONY J. CATANZARO. 

